Mikkel Boedker signs two-year deal with Lugano in Swiss league starting next season

The Ottawa Senators haven’t even learned if their season is officially over but Mikkel Boedker has already decided where he’ll suit up next season.

The little-used forward, who is a unrestricted free agent on July 1, signed a two-year deal with HC Lugano in the Swiss league Tuesday morning.

While Boedker, who suited up for only 20 games with the Senators before the NHL went on pause March 12 with 11 games remaining on the club’s schedule, wasn’t going to be back in Ottawa next year, the timing of the signing is still a little odd.

Though the league hasn’t decided whether all 31 teams will resume playing if the league returns in July and August, the NHL is leaning towards a 24-team format which means the Senators’ season would be over. That hasn’t happened yet and unless the Senators gave Boedker permission to speak with teams overseas then he’s technically still under contract to Ottawa.

“I am very happy to play in Lugano and to get to know the Cornèr Arena audience personally,” Boedker said in the press release. “I have heard that the fans are exceptional and very passionate. I am very motivated for the challenge that awaits me in Swiss hockey and I hope that together we can achieve something great.”

Lugano GM Hnat Domenichelli said he understood that Boedker still had a contractual obligation to return to the Senators if they do resume playing.

“We are very happy to be able to count on a fast winger like Mikkel,” Dominechelli said. “He is a complete forward who has played twelve seasons in the NHL and will certainly be an important reinforcement for our team. His current team, the Ottawa Senators, are unlikely to play the 2019-20 season playoffs in the NHL. If so, we will wait for him.”

Boedker, 30, spent two seasons with the Senators but had no role under new coach D.J. Smith and the club tried to move him at the last two trade deadlines but had no luck. He was acquired as part of the deal that sent winger Mike Hoffman to the San Jose Sharks before he was flipped to the Florida Panthers.

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